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Farmington High placed on lockdown after man enters building with knife

By Ryan Boetel The Daily Times

Updated:
03/06/2014 03:51:09 PM MST

Farmington police officers respond to Farmington High School on Thursday after it was reported that there was a man in the school with a knife. (Megan Farmer/The Daily Times)

Farmington police officers respond to Farmington High School on Thursday after it was reported that there was a man in the school with a knife. (Megan Farmer/The Daily Times)

FARMINGTON — School officials locked down Farmington High School Thursday afternoon after a man entered the school with a knife.

The knife was in a sheath on the man's waist, and he didn't threaten anyone with it, said Farmington police Lt. Taft Tracy.

The man, who was in his 20s and may have been a former student, entered the school at 11:45 a.m. and asked to speak with the principal, Tracy said. A secretary saw the knife on the man's waist and asked him to put it in his car.

“He at that point in time said he was able to go wherever he wanted to,” Tracy said.

The man left before a school resource officer could talk to him, Tracy said.

School officials placed the school on lookdown as a precaution. The lockdown was lifted after 40 minutes.

During a lockdown, students stay in their classrooms so school staff and police can easily search the building, Tracy said.

As of Thursday afternoon, police had not located the man, but, according to a press release, police “believe they know the individual’s identity.”

Charges likely won’t be filed in connection to the incident, Tracy said.Ryan Boetel covers crime and San Juan County at The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4644 and rboetel@daily-times.com. Follow him @rboetel on Twitter.

Farmington police respond Thursday to Farmington High School after it was reported a man with a hunting knife was on the campus. (Megan Farmer/The Daily Times)